Walleyes and Perch - very tasty! Lake Erie should have some hugh smallies too, big enough to tow you around some. Don't forget the PFD.
Oh yeah, I'm in the 'central basin' walleye and perch galore and they are tasty. Took the kids out fishing the last two days from the pier. Didn't even get a nibble. In the meantime I hear that guys are catching their limit of perch in 40 feet of water, which isn't that far off shore.
It looks like great fun. My kids want to give it a try too. The nice thing about Lake Erie is, it's shallow enough that we can get some experience without being in deep water.
Kayaks seem to be very affordable too. Along the shore in some spots there are alot of bass.
Get the kids off the X-Box and have some fun and excersize.